Area Development News Desk

08/19/2012

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Accelr8 Technology Corporation, a firm that develops instruments used for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms, is moving its headquarters to Tucson, Arizona, with plans to initially hire 65 employees during the next three years and potentially build its workforce up to 300.
The company will occupy approximately 15,000-square-feet of space in Pima County's Herbert K. Abrams Public Health Center at 3950 S. Country Club Road. After a build-out of wet lab space, the company is expected to be operational by early 2013. The firm plans to fill engineering, scientific, sales and marketing, management, finance, quality, regulatory and manufacturing positions.
While investment details about its relocation from Denver were not immediately available, Accelr8 said it selected Tucson as best meeting its needs for future high-growth plans. "Accelr8 is developing a revolutionary product in the diagnostics area and we were impressed with the region's emerging bioscience strength, innovation and support that can help ensure our future success," said Lawrence Mehren, president and CEO, Accelr8 Technology Corporation.
Accelr8's BACcel rapid diagnostic system, which is in development, is the first technology able to count and identify dangerous pathogens and their drug resistance expression within the same day of obtaining a patient specimen, instead of the two to three days required for standard methods.
"Accelr8 strengthens the biotechnology excellence our state has been building, while creating high-quality jobs for Arizonans," said Governor Jan Brewer. "I am grateful to the Arizona Commerce Authority, TREO and other regional partners whose excellence and creativity produced infrastructure solutions to secure Accelr8 for Arizona." As an incentive local authorities provided financial assistance to help the firm fund development its laboratory facility.
"Given the Accelr8 management team's past success driving high-growth plans for similar companies, it should prove to be a solid return on investment for many years," said Sharon Bronson, vice chair, Pima County Board of Supervisors.
"Our region has the technical talent and workforce that Accelr8 needs," said Jonathan Rothschild, mayor, City of Tucson. "We are quickly becoming recognized for our 'innovation know how."